How
would you view a man who's stockpiled a lifetime supply of old-fashioned
lightbulbs because he
believes low-energy bulbs could lead to blindness?

You
might well dismiss him as dotty. But the man in question, John Marshall, is no
crank. In fact, he's one of Britain's most eminent eye experts, the professor
of ophthalmology at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology.
So concerned is he that he has boxes stacked with old-fashioned incandescent
lightbulbs at home.

'I
bulk bought incandescent lightbulbs before the Government made it illegal to
import them,' he says. 'I can't give you an exact number, but I have enough to see me out.'

Nor
is he alone in his concerns about modern lightbulbs. Another eminent British
professor, John Hawk, an expert in skin disease, is warning they may cause
sunburn-like damage, premature aging and even skin cancer.

He
doesn't have any low-energy bulbs in his house, explaining: 'I have lots of
old-style bulbs I bought in bulk when they were available.'

Incandescent
bulbs had been the standard form of illumination for more than a century. But
following an EU directive, the Government banned the import of 100-watt bulbs
from 2009. This was followed by a ban on 60w bulbs in 2011 and a full ban on
all 'traditional' bulbs in 2012.

The
EU directive was aimed at cutting fuel and carbon emissions. The low-energy
bulbs - or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), to give them their technical name
- are said to use 80 per cent less electricity and to last longer.

Old-fashioned
incandescent bulbs work by electrically heating a filament inside a glass globe
filled with inert gas, so that it emits light.

Instead
of a glowing filament, low-energy bulbs have argon and mercury vapour within a
spiral-shaped tube. When the gas gets heated, it produces ultraviolet light.
This stimulates a fluorescent coating painted on the inside of the tube. As
this coating absorbs energy, it emits light.

The
concern is about some of the light rays emitted in high levels by these bulbs,
says Professor Marshall. Recent scientific evidence shows these specific
rays are particularly damaging to human eyes and skin.

Light
is made up of a spectrum of different coloured rays of light, which have
different wavelengths. As he explains: 'Light is a form of radiation. The
shorter the wavelength, the more energy it contains.
'The most damaging part of the spectrum is the short wavelength light at the
indigo/violet end of blue.
'Incandescent bulbs did not cause problems, but these low-energy lamps emit
high peaks of blue and ultraviolet light at this wavelength.'

HOW THEY CAN ATTACK YOUR EYES

In
the same way ultraviolet rays in sunlight can cause premature aging in our skin
if we get sunburnt,
there is a similar situation in the eye, says Professor Marshall.

'You
shed skin every five days, but your retina is with you for life.'

The
retina at the back of the eye is vital for sight - it's made up of
light-sensitive cells that trigger nerve impulses that pass via the optic nerve
to the brain, where visual images are formed.

With
macular degeneration, the macula, which is at the centre of the retina, becomes
damaged with age. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye. These
are two of the leading causes of blindness in Britain.

'If
you are in a country with high levels of ultraviolet light, your eyes will age
faster,' he says. 'This is why the incidence of cataracts is earlier and
greater nearer the equator, where sunlight is at its strongest, so there is
more light across all spectrums. CFLs may have a similar effect.

'The
exposure can also significantly increase your risk of macular degeneration. The
biggest risk factor for this is age, as it commonly starts to affect people
from 60 to 80.

'You
will almost certainly exacerbate that risk with low-energy lightbulbs,' adds
the professor, who last month warned his colleagues of the dangers at
Optrafair, a national education forum for opticians.

Invented in the late 1800s, but how do light bulbs work?

READING LAMP DANGER ZONES

But
it's not just your eyes that may be at risk from these lightbulbs. Professor John Hawk, the retired
head of the photobiology unit at St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's
College, London, warns: 'There is good evidence that the CFLs that have been
foisted upon us emit radiation sufficient to cause damage to the skin if used
close by for long enough.'

He
says the risk is particularly high if the bulb is a metre or less from your
body, which is common as people use them in reading lamps.

'There
is evidence that demonstrates that the lamps can not only cause damage to skin,
but also short-term symptoms such as sun rash and prickly heat, a condition
that medically is called polymorphic light eruption.

'As
with any ultraviolet damage, these effects can add up over the years. The
cumulative effect of this ultra-violet light causing burning, skin cell damage
and aging skin, is that it must to some small, but significant, extent,
increase the risk of skin cancer.'

Low-energy
bulbs are also known to cause trouble to people who have lupus, an auto-immune
disorder that typically affects the skin, joints and internal organs.
Irritation caused by ultraviolet light worsens the rashes, joint pain and
fatigue associated with the disease.

According
to the Lupus Foundation of America, up to two-thirds of people with the
condition are sensitive to CFLs.

The
EU has acknowledged that exposure to low-energy lightbulbs may cause skin
damage. But a report published in 2008 by its Scientific Committee on Emerging
and Newly Identified Health Risks said this risk is only with 'prolonged'
exposure at distances of less than 20cm.

In
such cases, 'CFLs may lead to UV exposures approaching the work- place limit
set to protect workers from skin and retinal damage'.

The LINK to MIGRAINE

'Migraines
and epilepsy are also problems,' says Professor Hawk. 'I have seen 30 skin patients in my
clinic who have been experiencing these problems linked to the bulbs.'

This
may be because low-energy bulbs can flicker imperceptibly (incandescent bulbs
flicker only when they are about to break).

A
2013 study in the journal Neurology found that flickering lights are likely to
trigger migraines in some sufferers. Flickering lights are also a trigger for
epileptic fits.

Eleanor
Levin, 44, a teacher of Spanish and music from Lancaster, blames low-energy
bulbs for her headaches. She says she can't be in the same room as one as it
will trigger attacks of nausea, confusion and migraine. She first noticed the
problem three years ago, when she began to suffer headaches in the office where
she worked. 'In the end, it made me so ill I had to give up that job,' she
says.

Flickering lights are likely to trigger
migraines in some sufferers. They are also a trigger for epileptic fits

Eleanor
has seen an array of doctors and neurologists.

'Some
neurologists have told me they believe the problem is caused by light
flickering and is related to migraines,' she says.

'I
have old-fashioned incandescent lights at home and don't get headaches - that's
why I now teach students at home for a living. I'm also fine with halogen
bulbs.'

But
she says she has to be careful where she goes at night. 'Luckily, there are
enough places that use gentle ambient light without these bulbs,' she says.

'The
EU accepts there can be skin-damage problems related to low-energy lightbulbs,
but not headaches. I suspect there are a lot of people who suffer milder
problems with CFL bulb-related headaches, but who have not made the link with
the cause.'

It's
also previously been reported that low-energy bulbs contain small amounts of
mercury, raising concerns that if the glass is broken, this toxic substance
could be released into the air or landfill.
A study by Germany's Federal Environment Agency found a broken low-energy bulb
emits levels of the vapour up to 20 times higher than the safe guideline limit
for an indoor area.

While
the amounts are relatively small, if a low-energy bulb does break, Public
Health England advises householders to evacuate the room and leave it to
ventilate for 15 minutes.

You're
advised to wear gloves while wiping the area with a damp cloth and picking up
the fragments - these should be placed in a plastic bag, then sealed.

This
should be taken to a council dump and placed in a special recycling bank
- councils do not collect hazardous waste in normal collections.

Incandescent bulbs had been the standard form of illumination for more
than a century

RISK of FAULTY BULBS

Another
potential concern is that low-energy bulbs bought off the shelf vary
considerably in the
amount of dangerous spectrum ultraviolet light they emit, according to research
at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, by Professor Harry Moseley, its head of
photo-biology. 'There appear to be significant problems with quality control in
their manufacture,' he says.

'Our
testing has found that in a batch of ten CFLs from randomly selected makers,
one may be significantly worse than the rest, because, for example, it
has a fault in its light-shielding.'

Professor
Moseley says that the 'single-envelope' bulbs - the low-energy bulbs where the
coiled parts are visible - tend to emit the highest levels of ultraviolet
light.

He
believes those with a 'double' envelope - where a pearly dome like an old-
fashioned lightbulb covers the coiled parts - tend to block out UV light
'much better'.

He
has been trying to lobby the EU to lift its ban on incandescent bulbs.

'I
have talked to the committee on light safety in Brussels about these concerns,
but no one there seems to be interested in this,' he says.

'The
EU was trying to be green by introducing CFLs, but they did not think of the
health consequences. They are very reluctant to reverse its
policies.'

Anne
Vick, the communications director of Lighting Europe, the industry association
representing leading lighting manufacturers, maintains 'there is no risk from
ultra- violet light exposure emitted by CFLs as their UVA and UVB rays
are well within the limits that guarantee consumer protection'.
She adds: 'European scientific experts have not found any health impact from UV
rays emitted by energy-saving bulbs in normal conditions.

'For
workers exposed to high levels of light and for people affected by extreme
light sensitivity, experts recommended using double-envelope lamps.

'CFLs
comply with all relevant consumer protection legislation. All lamps are
thoroughly tested in order to ensure safe applications for all consumers.'

Meanwhile,
an EU spokes- person told the Mail that 'based on scientific evidence, an EU
scientific committee in 2008 and the UK's Health Protection Agency came to the
conclusion that in normal use compact fluorescent lamps do not pose risks to
the general public'.

However,
Professor Moseley is not convinced.

He
says that what's needed is better legislation from the EU on the quality and
safety of low-energy lighting.

'But
they are very reluctant,' he says. 'Their feeling is that it is the sufferers'
problem. In Brussels, the carbon emission targets take precedence.'

Eye
expert Professor Marshall has a far simpler, if rather blunt, solution.

'I
would like to urge the manufacturers of these lightbulbs to get rid of them.'

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Friday, 30 May 2014

With our modern world
full of rampant consumerism, pollution, and the destruction of the environment happening at
a dangerously rapid pace, it’s becoming painfully clear we need to start doing
something different. I could go on and on all day listing the stuff
that’s messed up with this planet right now, but this post isn’t meant to bring
you down sooo… Let’s focus on the positives!

What we can do about these problems we face today?
What are the solutions?

That’s
where permaculture comes in. The word Permaculture comes from the
words “Permanant” and “Culture”, it means what it sounds like; creating a permanent culture. I hope
to share with you the same feelings of hope, inspiration and determination that
studying permaculture gives me.

Permaculture is based on
the ideas that we are all connected, that we can look to nature to find solutions
to the problems we’re facing today and we can conduct our lives in a better way
that is not only sustainable, but regenerative; healing the planet and
promoting abundance and health.

I started my permaculture
journey after stumbling upon a really great
website (openpermaculture.com) dedicated to the subject.
I started watching the free videos they offered and fell so hopelessly in
love with the ideas presented that I enrolled in the Permaculture Certification
class they offered, deciding this was the direction I wanted to take with my
life.

In my studies, I’m seeing
examples over and over again of how our “modern” approach is often
counterproductive and backward compared to the beautifully simple and
effective strategies used by permaculturalists. Many of the designs
implemented in permaculture are actually thousands of years old and have been
used by indigenous populations all across the planet with great success.

(I’ve already shared one of those designs
with you in a previous post, I plan on sharing more in the future.)

The things I’m learning
have made me think a lot about our ancestors; how they were living fully aware
of their intimate connection with nature and each other. I think about
myths of magic and druids and elves and all the other endless fantastic tales
we’ve collectively passed down over the years and I believe there might be more
truth to some of those tales then we realize…

You
know that phrase, “Magic is just a higher form of science we don’t understand?
“. With that phrase in mind, just imagine the things you could learn if
you lived fully immersed in nature like our ancestors did.

If you’re stuck in a rut,
feeling like you live in a dull, mundane, grey world hopelessly devoid of
magic and wonder, then you will love learning about permaculture!!!
:D
Studying this subject will sort of zestfully slap you in the face and wake you
up to just how beautiful and magical the world around us truly is; if we can
get past our egos enough to see it and connect to it.

In one of my classes on
permaculture, I learned how people can learn bird-language to such a fine
degree that they can tell who/what is approaching even if that thing is out-of
sight. I also learned about how you can get wild animals to eat right out
of your hand. This class is making me feel like I’m in a real-life
Hogworts or some kind of Druid School.

So…What is Permaculture all about?

At it’s heart,
Permaculture could be considered the “Art and Philosophy of Observation and
Connection.” It’s all about observing systems, cycles and patterns in
nature, and mimicking those patterns in our designs and living. After
all, Mother knows best. :)

Those designs can be for
farming, engineering, construction, medicine, education, even social
structures, the applications are pretty much endless, but the goal is the same,
to live in a way that harmonizes, instead of harms…

The beauty of permaculture
is that it helps us to work smarter instead of harder. Nature is
inherently intelligent and abundant, finding ways to flourish even in the most
extreme conditions and circumstances. Through observing what works in
nature, we can apply those same concepts to our own designs in a responsible
way that brings abundance to everyone and restores the Earth to a state of
balance.

To help achieve these
goals there are a few thinking tools we can use which help to ensure we’re
going in a healthy direction with our thoughts, designs and actions. If
you were to take a permaculture class, these are the first things you would
learn, since they form the core of what permaculture is all about.

Permaculture
Thinking Tools

3 Core Ethics

Permaculturalists
follow a very simple but important set of Ethics.

1. Care for the Earth
2. Care for People
3. Share the Surplus.

Permaculture is a
regenerative design practice. One of the biggest goals is to improve the
health of the planet and it’s people through careful observation and thoughtful
design that takes these ethics into account. The ethics of permaculture
are all about recognizing our connectedness and coming from that space in the
way we approach all kinds of things in our lives.

12 Permaculture
Principles

Along with these ethics, there are 12 design principles that are used as
guidelines to ensure successful systems, happy people and a healthy
planet.

Each principle for this
section is linked to an awesome website, http://permacultureprinciples.com/ it’s
a fun way to learn more about permaculture thinking tools and gives some great
real-life examples of them in action.

1) Observe and Interact.
Take time to observe the world around you, see how all the different
parts work together. Set aside opinions or preconceived ideas of what you
think is the wrong or right way to do things. Observe and go with the
flow.

2)Catch and Store Energy: By
developing systems that collect resources when they are abundant we can use
them in times of need.

3)Obtain a Yield:
“You can’t work on an empty stomach.” Design systems that provide an
immediate yield as well as establish future growth.

4)Apply Self Regulation
and Accept Feedback. This principle is about observing what does and
what doesn’t work and changing our practices and habits to go “with the flow”
instead of against it. In other words, it’s about evolving,

6)Produce no
Waste: By finding use and value in all of the resources available to
us, nothing goes to waste. Timely maintenance and thoughtful preparation
prevent waste and preventing waste promotes abundance. Composting
systems and eating local are just a couple of great examples of waste
prevention.

7)Design from Patterns
into Details. Design systems like you would design a drawing, laying
down the basic patterns, shapes and structures, then adding details after
the big-picture idea has been established. Just like with drawing, this
gives us some perspective to see if our system or picture is in proportion.

8) Integrate rather
than segregate. ”Many hands make light work”. Nothing is
isolated in nature. When you integrate many different things, the whole becomes
stronger because it is more versatile and adaptable.

9)Use small and slow
solutions. Take baby steps, you’ll get there without over-stepping and
falling on your face. It is easier to identify if something you do works
or doesn’t work if the changes are small and add up over time.

10)Use and value
Diversity. ”Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes
advantage of the unique environment in which it resides. Diversity offers
us insurance against the variations of our environment.

11)Use edges and Value
the Marginal (Fringes). ”Don’t think you’re on the right track just
because it’s a well beaten path. Edges are where the most interesting
events take place. These are the most valuable diverse and productive
elements within the system.

12)Creatively respond to
and use change. The problem is found in the solution.
We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing
and intervening at the right time, seeing problems not as roadblocks, but as
stepping stones and opportunities for success and learning.

In my next post on the
subject of Permaculture we’ll take a look at some permaculture designs, and the
specific and technical reasons why they are so bad-ass. We will
also talk about making things multi-functional, ways you can trap and store
energy and resources, as well as different permaculture ideas that can make
your life much, much easier and the Earth much, much happier. Thanks for
reading! :)

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